Medication Cleanout Drop Off Event

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department along with the Drug Enforcement Agency and North Texas Poison Center are hosting a Medication Cleanout Event. This event will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Two locations in Tyler are designated as drop off medication points:

1) BancorpSouth, 7600 S. Broadway
2) Eagle Academy of Tyler, 2235 W. Gentry Parkway

Police say you can just drive-up and drop off your medications without getting out of your vehicle — with no questions asked. According to police, these drive-through events are free and allow you to turn in unused and expired medications for safe disposal. Police say it is important to clean out your medicine cabinet, especially if you have children. Officials note that young children may confuse medication with something to eat or drink, and they say keeping unneeded medications with teenagers can lead to potential drug abuse. Medications including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, veterinary medicine, vitamins, minerals and medication samples are all accepted. Medical equipment such as oxygen tanks, sharps, inhalers, thermometers, nebulizers and IV bags cannot be accepted.

“Recent changes in the guidelines for medication disposal have also made events like these even more important. It’s not safe to simply flush your medications down the toilet anymore,” said Pamela Manzo, event coordinator and public health educator with the North Texas Poison Center. The North Texas Poison Center held its first Medication Cleanout event June 26 in Dallas. More than 350 participants donated 773 pounds of medications at the event. The Medication Cleanout is also sponsored by BancorpSouth and Brookshire’s. You can visit http://www.medicationcleanout.com for more information.